Heisman Watch: Montee Ball and 3 Dark Horse Candidates

While Russell Wilson received all of the attention after Wisconsin's blowout win over Nebraska, the game showed that Montee Ball is yet another Heisman candidate for the undefeated Badgers.

After rushing for 150 yards and four touchdowns, Ball was one player on Saturday who showed that the Heisman race is not limited to Andrew Luck, Kellen Moore and Robert Griffin III.

The Heisman Trophy, given to the best college football player in the nation, is one of the toughest trophies in sports to win due to limited opportunities. It is even harder to "come from nowhere" to pick up the trophy, as voters usually take notice of players early in the season and watch from there.

Still, these four student-athletes have what it takes to creep up on the competition to at least become a finalist in New York City. Unfortunately, they are not household names just yet.

Tajh Boyd, QB Clemson

Here come the Clemson Tigers.

After receiving no votes in the preseason AP Poll, the Tigers have plowed through a brutal three-game stretch against Auburn, Florida State, and at Virginia Tech and came through undefeated. They are ready for the Top 10, and it is all thanks to quarterback Tajh Boyd.

Boyd has put up some great numbers for Clemson in his first year as a starter. His 14 passing touchdowns put him fifth in the nation, and yet he has only thrown two interceptions all season. He also finds himself in the Top 10 in passing yards with 1,459.

Despite the great numbers, the sophomore is also a great leader. Boyd did not have his best game on Saturday against Virginia Tech but he still led his team to a 23-3 win in a very tough environment against the No. 11 team in the country.

Clemson will go as far as Tajh Boyd takes them. If he can continue his great run as the schedule gets easier, the Tigers can find themselves in a BCS bowl game. At that point, it would be hard to overlook this quarterback when it comes to voting for the Heisman trophy.

Geno Smith, QB West Virginia

Not only has the junior from West Virginia had an amazing start to the 2011 season, there might not be anyone left on the schedule to slow Geno Smith down.

The Mountaineers do not face another team currently ranked in the Top 25 until they travel to South Florida, a team that was just blown out by Pittsburgh.

This might leave the door open for Geno Smith to show enough people that he is really one of the best players in the country.

At this point he is third in the nation in passing yards with 1,709. Despite that lofty number he keeps his efficiency solid. Smith still has a 64.8 percent completion rate and 12 touchdowns to only three interceptions.

He is not just bullying smaller teams either, as he finished with 463 passing yards against current No. 1 LSU.

West Virginia is the current favorite to win the Big East, and if Geno Smith continues to play as expected, the sky is the limit for this young man.

Montee Ball, RB Wisconsin

Montee Ball had his best game of the season on Saturday, but hardly gets a mention over very-deserving teammate Russell Wilson. That seems to be the way it will go all year until someone takes notice of Ball's incredible numbers for Wisconsin.

The Nebraska defense focused on the quarterback during most of the game, but 150 rushing yards and four touchdowns is nothing to scoff at. On the season, Montee Ball is leading the nation with 13 touchdowns with a respectable 511 rushing yards.

His numbers will likely continue to improve if last game's 30 carries were any indication. He is averaging 5.5 yards per carry and is just begging for the rock more often to show what he can do.

Are his numbers inflated since Russell Wilson arrived on campus to keep the pressure off him? Not even close.

Ball finished with 18 touchdowns a year ago, and he was not even the full-time running back until late in the year. In his last five games he ran for 777 yards and 14 touchdowns.

It will be hard to overtake his very impressive teammate Russell Wilson, but his numbers speak for himself and it could be enough to get some Heisman consideration.

Tyrann Mathieu, CB LSU

There has been only one defensive player in history who was able to win the Heisman Trophy. In 1997, Charles Woodson was enough of a playmaker as a cornerback and a kick returner that the voters chose him over Peyton Manning.

Tyrann Mathieu might be just the player to repeat Woodson's performance. The 5'9" sophomore from LSU is one of the best in the country at getting to the football.

He does not have the great statistical numbers of an offensive player, but he might be one of the most important players on the No. 1 ranked team in the AP Poll.

Mathieu currently leads his defense in tackles with 35, an impressive feat for a defensive back. He also unofficially leads the unit in big plays. His four forced fumbles and three recoveries are impressive enough, but the fact that he return two of them for touchdowns is amazing.

One of those touchdowns was against Oregon in the first half of a close game. In a tough fight at West Virginia, Mathieu had two turnovers to lead LSU to a victory. It seems whenever the Tigers need a play, you will see No. 7 ending up with the ball in his hands.

As just a sophomore, Tyrann Mathieu still has room to grow. If he does not make voters notice this year, he will at some point. Add in his skill in the return game and Charles Woodson might soon have to pass the torch to another defensive Heisman Trophy winner.